Coop for fowls



J.M. HOUSEHOLDER.

Goor PoR BoWLs'.

No. 264,293.l y/@1 Patented sep1;.v12, 1882.

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Unirse STATES PATENT Friet..

JEHU M. HOUSEHOLDER, OF WINFIELD, KANSAS.

COOP FOR FOWLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,293, datedSeptember 12, 1882.

Application filed June 21, 1882. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J EHU M HoUsEHoLDER, of Wi'neld, in the county ofCowley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in (loops for Fowls; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description ot' the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains .to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to hen-coops, the object being to provide a coopwith a swinging door adapted to be freely opened outwardly, but held byan automatic latch or locking device against backward or inward swingingto prevent the ingress of fowls while the coop is occupied by a hen.

The invention consists in theimproved construction and combinations ofdevices hereinafter fully described, and pointed Vout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the door-frame ot' acoop provided Fig. 2 is a detached view ot' one form of automatic latchadapted for use with my improved door. Fig. 3 is a similar view ofanother form of latch, and Fig. 4. illustrates in detail my manner ofhanging the door.

A represents the door-frame ot' a poultrycoop, from whose uppercross-bar depend any desired number of loops or rings a, those shownbeing the ordinary screw-eyes adapted to be readily screwed into theframe.

B represents a cylindrical rod, adapted to pass through the rings a. Thedoor C is provided at its upper end with rings or loops c, adapted toreceive the rod B, as shown. A pin, b, is passed through the rod B,between the rings a and c, to retain the rod in position. rEhe 4door isthus pivotally held in position, and may be freely swung on the rod B.An open-A ing, c', is formed in the door to allow of the entrance ofsmall chickens to the coop without opening the door, and to allow a hento see into the coop. A longitudinal slot or mortise, I, is formed inone side of the frame A to receive a pawl or catch, D, which ispivotally secured therein by a pivot, d.

E represents one of my improved latches for automatically engaging thecatch D, said latch consisting ofthe main central portion, e, of spearshape, and provided with shoulders c e', with which the catch engages,and curved arms e2 e2, projecting in opposite directions and extendingon either sideot the portion c, as shown. Each of these arms e2 isprovided on its outer side with a shoulder, c3, adapted to hear againsta stud, c4, projecting from the side ofthe door. When the latch E is inthe position shown in Fig. 1, with its spearshaped portion projectingforward from the coop, the door may be freely opened from within, as theupper curved arm, e, of the latch will come in contact with the catch D,thus turning the latch, as represented in dotted lines,and allowing thedoor to be opened 5 but the contact of the shoulder c with the catch De'ectually prevents the inward swinging of the door.

, Fig. 3 shows another form of locking device adapted for use with myimproved door, in which F represents a semicircular plate rigidlysecured to one side of the door, which latter is slotted to receive it.The plate F is provided with a liange, f, extending entirely around it,and with aguide-loopJ", the latter being curved to correspond to thecurvature ot' the plate. A pawl, G, is pivoted to the plate F, adjacentto the inner end of the loop f', but sufficiently above said loop toenable the inner end, g, ofthe pawl to serve as a stop against which thecatch D otl the frame will abut to lock the door against inwardswinging.

-The latch E is designed to lock the door against at each alternateopening ing apawl or catch-lever pivoted thereto and In testimonywhereof I have signed this :L door pivotally secured at; its upper endto specification inthe presence of two subscribing the frame, of apivoted latch secured to one Witnesses.

side of the door,and consisting of a central JEHU M. HOUSEHOLDER. spearportion provided with shoulders to en- Vitnesses:

gage said pawl, and an upper and a lower L. D. ZENOR,

curved arm, substantially' as set forth. H. E. SILLIMAN.

